8 sexy exotics from trail to downhill: Bikes from brands that fly under the radar

It's actually always the same manufacturers that roll through the terrain on German trails. Only very few bikers think outside the box when buying and look at the details of smaller brands. However, the range of mountain bikes on offer is not limited to Trek or Scott and does not end with Specialized or Santa Cruz. However, only a few have a real insight into the small niches of the colourful display. In this article, we invite manufacturers onto the stage who are not normally in the spotlight for the average biker.

1st Ministry Cycles Psalm 150

Chris Currie from Ministry Cycles has become something of an internet legend in insider circles. The American inventor shares his development work very transparently on social media and therefore gathers a dedicated group of tech-savvy fans around him. The first bike from his latest label is still in prototype status, but can already be pre-ordered. The Psalm 150 is based on a CNC-machined frame and comes with 29er wheels. The 3VO suspension squeezes 150 millimetres of travel out of the rear triangle. The 160 mm fork is 64.5 degrees flat. If you want to delve deeper into the subject, you can find all kinds of data on leverage ratios and kinematics on the Ministry website. Hail to the freaks!

2. gamux sego

Fans of the Downhill World Cup will probably not have missed out on this awesome machine, as the Gamux Sego is the workhorse of the AON Racing Team. The frame is largely milled from an aluminium alloy, which is also used in the aerospace industry. Carbon with bonded fibres is also used. A belt drives a Pinion gearbox with automatic shifting function. With 200 millimetres of suspension travel and a steering angle of 63 degrees, the Sego is ready for the toughest downhill courses in the world. Ordinary mortals can also purchase this technological firework. Cost: 6700 Swiss francs for the frame kit, 10,450 for the complete bike.

3rd Production Privée Shan No. 5

Production Privée is probably still familiar to fans of steel hardtails. However, since the small brand from Andorra was acquired by Forestal, it has also been selling fullys. The Shan No. 5 has a main frame made from heat-treated MCS 4130 steel and a carbon rear triangle. The rear triangle offers 140 millimetres of suspension travel and the fork should offer 150 millimetres. Not only the production in Andorra, but also the paint jobs are absolutely unique. A rolling chassis with suspension components, add-on parts and carbon wheels costs 5604.90 euros. The frameset without shock starts at 2379.01 euros.

4. paladin AM 1

Another exciting bike with a milled aluminium frame can be pre-ordered from Paladin. The artistic chassis is manufactured in Portland, Oregon on a multi-axis CNC milling machine. To save weight, parts of the frame are elaborately hollowed out. There is a choice of 140 or 150 millimetres of suspension travel at the rear. The so-called "Elevated Suspension" promises high sensitivity even under braking thanks to its high pivot point. The Paladin AM 1 rolls on either Mullet or Full 29 tyres. The chainstay length is variable. Customised bodies will also be available to order in the future.

5. spot mayhem 140

Spot Cycles is primarily known for its distinctive suspension system. The rear triangle is suspended at the lower pivot point by means of a leaf spring, which, according to the manufacturer, is intended to provide a great deal of control over the suspension. You can read about the technology behind it for hours on the Spot homepage. As the name suggests, the Mayhem 140 has 140 millimetres of rear travel. Despite the 29er wheels, the chainstay length remains a compact 435 millimetres in all frame sizes. Complete bikes start from 4756.95 US dollars, the frame alone costs 3614.95 dollars.

6. pipedream the full moxie

The Pipedream The Full Moxie is "very British" and is of course based on a steel frame. The geometry concept is something special. Pipedream only offers the fully in two sizes, but keeps the seat tube extremely short at 420 millimetres in both. On the other hand, the reach values are relatively long at 470 and 510 millimetres respectively. Depending on the installation length, the shock delivers 140 to 146 millimetres of travel and harmonises with a fork stroke of between 140 and 160 millimetres. The Full Moxie accepts 29ers, 27.5ers with plus tyres or a combination of the two. The frameset costs 1270.20 British pounds in the EU.

7. airdrop filter MX

Before Brexit, Airdrop was a favourite among scene connoisseurs for affordable, functional and stylish bikes without a lot of bells and whistles. In the meantime, the small rider-owned label from Sheffield has probably disappeared from the radar of many bikers. Wrongly so! The Filter MX comes with mullet tyres and 141 millimetres of rear suspension travel. At Airdrop, a pleasing geometry meets an online configurator in which the look can also be customised. The British company charges €1845.95 for a frame including shock, with complete bikes starting at €3885.95.

8th Bird Aeris 9

The Brits at Bird were ahead of their time and gave the Aeris 9 a progressive geometry with short seat tubes and long reach values years ago. The charismatic company also impressed with an excellent price-performance ratio and an extensive online configurator. The Aeris 9 offers 160 millimetres of rear travel and up to 180 millimetres at the front. The chainstay length can be adjusted thanks to the flip-chip and remains compact despite 29-inch tyres. The enduro bike from Bird is advertised at 1612.83 euros for the frame and favourable prices for complete bikes.